ANOTHER DASH FOR THE POLE.

North Otago Times, 22 May 1909, Page 1 (Supplement)

ANOTHER DASH FOR THE POLE.

WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY WILL DO IT,

Motor-cars, aeroplanes and dirigible balloons have been advocated from time to time by enthusiasts as means of reaching the Xorlh Pole. Even so eminent a scientist as Prof. Newcombe has suggested the derigiblo balloon, and Thomas Edison has come out in print as an exponent of the aeroplane in an improved form as s a means of reaching the pole, When it is possiblo to fly through the air from London to lierlin with case and without the necessity of alighting for fuel along the routo, then and then only may the journey through the atmosphere to the goographical poles of the earth be considered within the range of accomplishment. A balloon at its best in its modern dirigible form is an uncertain bubble of gas for an explorer to entrust his hopes to. If there were trade winds blowing across the northern ice cap of the earth an explorer might make use of a large balloon to carry a loud of food, sledges, dogs, etc. When the accumulation of ice or the loss of gas caused the balloon to drop the balloonist would still have the means to force his way towards the pole. Hut the attempt would be hazardous because of the necessity for waiting until the warm season to inflate the balloon, and the consequent delay of the trip until the end of the sledging season, which is just beforo the polar night sets in. In cold weather the varnished silk of a balloon bag is exceedingly brittle, and it would be impossible to handle it without breaking the fragile material. Even the month of May and the early days of June are 100 cold. Moreover, the necessity of running water -in the manufacture of hydrogen gas would render the cold days of spring impracticable for ballooning. Another handicap is the fact that all arctic lands are surrounded by local storm zones. A steady wind extending over a large area is a rarity, except in the form of a gale. If the ice from Greenland or Franz Josef Land to the pole were a solid level sheet a motor-car would be practicable. Speed is the only advantage the motor has over the dog team, and should it be reduced because of the rough roads to slow travel then the pony or dog team would prove more desirable, being able to haul a greater load on less weight of food or fuel. The motor could not begin to carry or haul enough petrol or fuel to make even a small part of the distance. As for the aeroplane-it is merely an experiment at present. Before long flights can be accomplished inventors must follow more closely the principles of bird flight. Doth dirigible balloon and aeroplane are in plan more nearly akin to a fish than to a bird in the air. The gas bag of the former corresponds to the swimming bladder of a lisli and the propellers of both machines are better adapted for revolving in a dense medium like water than for progress through tiiin air. The propellers should be small and flat and almost frictionlcss, with a'knife-like edge to cut the air and with a speed of revolution beyond anything now deemed possible. Bv means of swift revolving screws and explosives the operator could lift his machine directly from the earth. Such devices would be necessary in the Arctic, for on the rough ice it would be impossible to run the long distance required for rising on the planes. The Pole has not been captured as yet simply because such a march as that necessary for its accomplishment has never been made even in a better clime, It means a hard journey o( more than a thousand miles from a base of supplies without the means of securing food or equipment ol any sort along the line of travel; a march over a surface so rough that sometimes not more than a mile and a half can be made i in ten hours of the hardest kind of j effort.

SLOW "QUICK" TRAVELLING.

So far an average of ten miles a day has never been accomplished. On the Duke of the Abruzzi's expedition Captain Cagni averaged about seven miles a day. lie still holds the record for the longest march and best time over tho polar pack, I)r. Nanscn averaged about five miles a day and Commander Peary, who holds the present "farthest North," averaged about five miles a day. However, Mr. Anthany Fiala has a scheme of his own for a new attempt he is projecting. He has already headed one expedition, in 1903, ami was lost in the ice for two years. He tells us that he Will probably discover the secret of the North by a combination of drift ship, wireless telegraphy, and sledge party. The drift ship should be small but strong, and thoroughly equipped, carrying a captive- balloon and kites for signalling purposes. Of all the explorers Dr. Nansen seems to have had the best method of reaching the Pole. If he had but had the wireless telegraphy of to-day .he probably would havo reached 90 decrees north-for by means of such an apparatus signals could have been sent from ship to sledgo party which would have rendered unnecessary . tht long journey he was compelled to make towards land" Popular Scionco Sittings,"